Listen. Day #1.

Please do not publically share any of these photos.

First of all, I have to thank a dear high school friend, who's a certified audiologist in the States, who's been a tremendous help and blessing...along with all the docs here in China that's helped me navigate this journey with these two little girls. Emily D, thank you!!!

I met these two, 3.5 year old, village girls a few weeks ago at a local rehabilitation center, where Lily and I volunteer. These two immediately had a piece of my hearts...both so darn adorable.

Girl #1 has a brother with cerebral palsy here a the rehab center. However, knowing I was a physician, the mother came up to me to talk about a concern she had with her daughter. Her chief complaint was that her speach and language development has been quite delayed, and not sure why. Long story short, ended up getting some hearing tests done...lo and behold, has hearing deficits bilaterally, but profound hearing deficit on the left. Felt she would be a good candidate for hearing aids so here we are, with some of our international clinic staff and her family, getting molds done at a local audgiology/hearing aid place.

Girl #2 with a similar story. Mother came to me at the rehab center and was concerned that her daughter had not yet spoken her first, intelligible word, at 3.5 years old. After talking more, found out she hasn't responded to sound since day #1 of life, i.e., likely deaf. With some work-up that included a basic hearing test, MRI, and CT scans...many felt like she could potentially benefit from surgical intervention. However, due to numerous factors, I felt trying out a wearable hearing device would be a better step-wise approach...instead of jumping directly to surgery, which would not only be extremely expensive, but would require lots and lots of post-surgical follow-up and therapy. Here she is getting molds done at the same local audgiology/hearing aid place.

God, I am pr'ying Your name be praised and these girls can be gifted with the sense of beautiful sound! Family and friends, will you pr'y with me??

Looking up with great anticipation,

Dan Lui